THE RABBIT SCARE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXV, Issue 7862, 18 May 1886, Page 6

THE RABBIT SCARE.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —It appears to me that the members of the New Zealand Wool-Growers’ Association in advocating a special tax on the Canterbury sheep-owners, to check the advance of the rabbits in Marlborough, are losing sight of the fact that the leases of the Canterbury runholders expire in about four years’ time, and that of late these leases have lost aU commercial value, owing to the insecurity of tenure and the operation of an unjust fencing law. So far as the protection of the Canterbury runs is concerned, the question devolves on the Government, our landlord, rather than on the tenants. At the same time, I admit that the interests of the Canterbury sheepfarmers are seriously threatened, but hold that, before we submit to one farthing of extra taxation, a rigid enquiry should be made into the working of the Sheep Departmentin Canterbury. For years we have been taxed at the rate of £1 per thousand sheep. What has this tax been used for ? Simply to fight an imaginary scab danger, which, even if it did break out, could be got under as easily as ticks or lice. I thoroughly approve of Mr Rutherford’s ioea of appointing Rabbit Boards, Vigilance Committees, and such like, and I think the Canterbury sheepfarmers should act in unison with the Amuri. I would suggest that the sheep rates both from Canterbury and Amuri should be paid to a Central Board appointed by tho sheepfarmers themselves, and that power should be given to this Board to borrow if necessary, and to distribute a portion of their funds to the Rabbit Boards throughout Canterbury and Amuri. It must be borne in mind that in Canterbury herself, both in the North and South, many runholders are being put to a large annual expense to keep in check the rabbits already on th eir country, and could not afford to assist the Amuri unless they got some assistance themselves.

The only practical means for taking immediate action to meet the present crisis is for the freeholders north of the Amuri to erect the fence, with the assistance of the Government and the large holders, between the Hurunui*' and the Waipara. They are directly and vitally interested. The coast line south of the Waipara la thickly populated, and even if the, bits were to come down, the difficulty could be coped with by the farmers, perhaps, more easily than the small bird nuisance now is.—l am, &c..